Closure retainer kit



July 22, 1958 M. KELLER CLOSURE RETAINER KIT Filed Feb. 1, 1957 INVENTOR.

MIIIIIIIIIIIlllllllllllH\ 58 MAEY KELLEQ,

M- v* ATTOENEYSI United States Patent CLOSURE RETAINER KIT Mary L. Keller, Santa Monica, Calif.

Application February 1, 1957, Serial No. 637,734

1 Claim. (Cl. 22038.5)

This invention relates ot an anti-loss kit for installa tion on filler necks for preventing accidental loss of the closure caps therefrom, such as the filler necks of automobile radiators, gasoline tanks, and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide practical and eflicient kits of this kind which are simple in construction, composed of a wall member of simple parts, and are suitable to be sold in auto accessory stores for easy installation by unskilled persons.

Another object of the invention is to provide kits of the character indicated, which can be made in attractive, rugged, and serviceable forms at relatively low cost, are easily used, and are highly satisfactory and practical for the purpose intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a closure cap and filler-neck assembly showing an anti-loss conversion kit in accordance with the present invention, installed there- Figure 2 is a side elevational view of said assembly, showing the cap on the filler neck;

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the blank of the cap clamping band;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the cap clamping band;

Figure 5 is a perspective view, similar to Figure 4, showing another form of cap clamping band Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view, similar to Figure 2, with portions broken away and in section, showing the cap clamping band of Figure 5 in use.

Referring to the drawings in detail, indicated generally at 10 is the upper portion of a filler-neck of a gasoline tank, for example, having on the upper endthereof an inwardly directed annular flange 12 having diametrically opposed slots 14 in its inner edge. A closure cap 16 for the neck 10 has depending from the underside of its top member 18 a circular boss 20 receivable within the opening 22 of the filler neck flange 12, and having diametrically opposed laterally outwardly extending lugs 24 arranged to be passed through the slots 14 of the filler neck flange 12 and engaged with the underside of the flange 12.

The anti-loss kit 26 shown in Figures 1 to 4 comprises a U-shaped anchor 30 adapted to be secured to extend laterally from the outerside of the filler neck 10 below the upper end thereof. Suitably secured to the anchor 30 is the lower end 32 of a flexible chain 34, of eflicient length of permit rotation of the closure cap 16 on the upper end of the filler neck for free removal and replacement thereof on said filler-neck.

A cap clamping band 46, composed of an elongated strip 36 of readily malleable material, has holes 38 and 39 in opposite ends thereof, and has integral with one edge 40 thereof a U-shaped eye 42. Indicated by dotted lines 44 are fold lines on which the strip 36 is folded, as shown in Figure 4, to define a circular band portion 48, with the eye 42 bent into the general plane of the body portion 48. The opposite end portions of the strip 36 are bent on the fold lines 44 to define radial parallel cars 52 and 54. A clamping bolt and nut assembly 56 has the bolt 57 thereof extending through the holes 38 and 39 of the ears 52 and 54 for contracting the band 46 on and around the annular depending flange 19 which depends from the cap top 18 as clearly seen in Figures 1 and 2. The other end 58 of the flexible retaining member 34 is suitably secured to the clamping band eye 50 as clearly seen in Figures 1 and 2.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 5 and 6, the clamping band 46 has intermediate its ends a struck out U-shaped anchor 42, and has ears 52 and 54 on its ends, similar to the cars 52 and 54. The band 46 has extending inwardly from opposite edges thereof circumferentially spaced pairs of upper and lower flanges 60. A chain 34 has one end secured to the anchor 42* and its other end secured to the filling neck anchor 30.

The closure cap 16- shown in Figure 6, has a depending annular flange 19 having an outwardly projecting annular rib 62 spaced below the cap top 18- and therewith defining an annular grove 58. The clamping band 46 is engaged around the rib 62, with the ears 60 engaged with the upper and lower sides of the rib 62, whereby the band 46 is secured on the rib 62.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, as fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A kit of the character described comprising a split clamping band for encircling the depending annular flange of a filling neck closure cap, said band having ends terminating in spaced radial aperturedears, a clamping bolt traversing said ears for contracting the band on said flange, an eye on and projecting laterally from said band, a chain having an upper end secured to said eye, and an anchor adapted to be secured to a filling neck associated with the closure cap to which the lower end of the chain is secured, said clamping band having opposed edges carrying circumferentially spaced pairs of upper and lower inwardly projecting flanges for clamping engagement with the upper and lower sides of an outwardly projecting annular rib on the depending flange of a closure cap, said eye being struck out of an intermediate portion of the band.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 331,999 Perry Dec. 8, 1885 715,399 Low Dec. 9, 1902 879,516 Cantwell Feb. 18, 1908 1,581,818 Shefiield et al. Apr. 20, 1926 2,286,175 Wackman Iune 9, 1942 2,722,337 Lindsay Nov. 1, 1955 

